TriMet Open Houses for Proposed Service Cuts

TriMet releases details of proposed service cuts prompted by economic recession
3-month public process begins with rider input and open houses

Due to the economic recession, TriMet must cut its FY10 budget by $13.5 million, which includes a 5 percent across-the-board cut and reductions to bus and MAX service. TriMet is hopeful that federal stimulus funds may offset some planned agency investments, and in turn, enable TriMet to reduce service cuts.

TriMet is launching a three-month comment and refinement phase where the public can help shape the final service cut plan. Service changes take effect September 2009.

Criteria for service cuts
Low ridership bus lines
Low ridership trips on bus lines and MAX
Alternative service available nearby
12 bus lines proposed to be discontinued
About 1 percent of weekday rides are taken on the following 12 lines; and 79 percent of those rides can be made on nearby service.

Ten bus lines are proposed to be eliminated due to low ridership. Low ridership lines have less than 15 rides an hour: 18-Hillside, 37-Lake Grove, 41-Tacoma, 55-Hamilton, 60-Leahy Rd, 63-Washington Park, 86-Alderwood, 153-South End Loop Road, 156-Mather Road, 157-Happy Valley
Two lines are proposed to be canceled due to alternative service nearby: 33-Fremont, 74-Lloyd District/Southeast
Weekend service changes
Weekend service is proposed to be eliminated on bus lines that either have low ridership and/or alternative service nearby. About 1.7 percent of weekend trips are taken on these lines, and about 58 percent of those trips can be made on alternative nearby service.

No Saturday service (weekday service remains): 1-Vermont, 10-Harold, 34-River Road, 51-Vista
No Sunday service (Saturday service remains): 17-NW 21st, 48-Cornell, 58-Canyon Rd, 67-Jenkins/158th Ave
No weekend service (weekday service remains): 39-Lewis & Clark, 43-Taylors Ferry Rd, 47-Baseline/Evergreen, 59-Walker/Park Way, 89-Tanasbourne
Some of these lines with weekend changes, in addition to 19 others, are proposed to have frequency and/or span of service changes on low ridership trips. Another 5 lines have proposed route changes.

Details on proposed bus service cuts (PDF)
MAX service
The start and end of MAX service remains the same. Here are proposed changes:

All rush hour service remains the same except on the Yellow Line, where every train will now run with two cars, expanding capacity, and run every 15 minutes, rather than every 10-12 minutes.
Frequency of all MAX lines is extended from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes during low ridership trips in the early morning and late evening each day.
With the Green Line opening in September (I-205/Portland Mall Project), new service will be added between Clackamas Town Center and downtown Portland. Service will run every 15 minutes during higher ridership hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays; mid-morning to early evening on weekends). During other hours, service will run every 30 minutes. This service proposal is less frequent than originally planned.
Details on proposed MAX service cuts (PDF)
Public comment period
Public comments are accepted beginning today through March 31, 2009. In addition to the service cuts, the public can comment on bus service returning to the Portland Mall in May and the future of Fareless Square. Comment via: